Ankle support and protector.



H. J. UOLLIS. ANKLE SUPPORT AND PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.&, 1912.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

FFIQE.

HENRY JAMES COLLIS, 0F TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTQ.

ANKLE SUPPORT AND JPRUTEGTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 4, 19153.

Patented Dec. 16,1913.

fierial No, 6853,4229.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, HENRY Janus COLLIS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State of llfassaehusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ankle Supports and Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for supporting and protecting ankles, and it has special relation to devices of this class which are designed for use in athletic sports and which are generally employed in position over the stocking and within the shoe,

My present invention. embodies certain iniprovernents in the construction of ankle supports and protectors of the type shown in my Patent No. 913,268, granted February 23, 1909, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

The object of my present improvements is to provide a simple device of this class which can be more readily and economically inanufactured, which will be extremely simple in construction, which will more effectively avoid chafing and the presence of seems at those points where the extra thickness of seams is undesirable, and which will furthermore possess advantages in point of durability, elfectiveness and general efficiency.

In the drawings-ligure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the appearance of the device when in use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view with the device open and looking at the inner side. Fig. 3 is a rear view, showing the upper portion of the device. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section on the line so e, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail crosssec tion on the line g g Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section on the line s e, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the main outside body portion of the device is formed.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main outside portion of the body of the device, which forms the sides of the upper portion which extends at each side the ankle, as at 2-2, and the bottom strip or portion which passes under the instep, as at 3. The member 1 is constructed in a single piece, from a blank of soft pliable material, such as leather or a suitable fabric, and the blank comprises two end portions shaped to form the sides 2-2 and connected by a central web forming the instep strip 8, the front edges of the side portions 2 being curved, as at ii, to form the open front of the device, and the rear edges of said sides, as at 5, being adapted to terminate at a point in front of the back section of the device which surrounds the rear of the ankle above the heel. Thus, when the one-piece blank is arranged in operative position an open approximately ll-shaped space will be left at the rear between the rear edges of the side portions This space is occupied by a corresponding approximately V-shaped seamless strip, 6, likewise formed of soft pliable material, wiich constitutes the outside portion of the rear of the device which surrounds the back of the ankle above the heel. The strip 6 is connected to the edges 5 in any suitable or adapted manner, but I prefer to have the edges of the strip 6 and the edgres 5 abutting, as herein shown, and secured. by a cross stitch, as at 7, thereby forming a continuous smooth surface without overlaps and thus enhancing the concfort and fit of the device in wear, but it will be understood that if desired the side edges of the strip 6 may overlap the edges 5 and be stitched thereto in the form of an ovcrlapping seam. The top edge of the seamless V-shaped back strip 6 is preferably skived and turned over inwardly, as at 8, and secured by stitching, as at 9, to form a rounded and finished top edge. The improved construction as above described thus provides a seamless smooth back section, which will of fectively avoid any chafing at the back of the ankle above the heel and will provide a soft and pliable condition at this part of the device, the back seams 7 being located at the front of the back section, and at each side thereof, by reason of the termination of the rear edges 5 of the main. body portion 1 in front of the back section and the insertion of the V-shaped strip 6 to form the continuous body at the back.

At the inner side of the main portion 1 is provided a body strip, 10, extending; over the entire inner face of the upper side portions 2 of the main portion 1 and secured thereto by suitable stitching, as at 11. This inner body strip formed of a single seamless blank of soft pliable material, and its central portion therefore covers the inner face of the ti-shaped back strip 6, to which it may be secured by a central line of stitching, as at 12. The improved construction and arrangement thus preserves the seamless status of the back section of the device, and the latter is furthermore rendered more durable, as liability to ripping is prevented, there being less strain at the location of the side seams 7 than would be the case in the constructions as heretofore employed which have a seam at the center of the back at the direct point of strain.

In the application of my present improvements to the device of the type set forth in my previous patent above mentioned, the general features of construction may be the same as disclosed in that patent. For instance, a series of pockets, as at 14, are formed between the outside main portion 1 and the inside body strip 10, at the sides 2, said pockets carrying removable stifiening strips, 15, and having open tops closed by an inwardly and downwardly projecting flap, 16, constituted by an extension of the top edge of the main portion 1. Such previous construction also embodies suitable fastening means at the front edges 4, preferably constituted by eyelets, 17, and a lace, 18, and a suitable tongue flap, 19, is carried at the inner side of the device to underlie such fastening means. But in the employment of my improved construction, as herein described, in association with the general structural features just set forth, the series of pockets 1i terminate in front of the V-shaped strip 6 constituting the back section, and the top flaps 16 also have their rear ends terminating in front of said strip 6, whereby the entire back section has a soft and smooth and seamless status, without impairment, and the whole area back of the ankle and above the heel is without scams or excess thickness, it being constituted entirely by the V-shaped strip 6 and the central portion of the inner body strip 10.

The inner body strip 10 terminates above the instep strip 3 which is contituted by the central portion of the outside main blank 1, and the inner face of said instep strip is protected by a sweat-proof lining, 20, to protect the single thickness of leather or pliable material existing at this point. In the constructions as previously employed, the instep section of the main portion 1 is liable to rot and break, by reason of its single thickness and position under the instep, where the strongest strain and hardest test in wear is encountered. The sweatproof lining 20 operates not only to protect the instep strip 3 and prevent rot and breaking or wearing away, but it also reinforces and strengthens the device at this point most subject to strain and wear. The lining 20 is constituted by a strip covering the entire inner surface of the instep portion 3 and secured thereto by a suitable stitching, as at 21, its ends being inserted beneath the lower edge of the inner body strip 10 and likewise secured by a suitable stitching, as at 22. This sweat-proof lining strip may be of any suitable or adapted material having the required water-proof characteristics.

It will be understood that, under some conditions of preferred manufacture, the main body blank 1 and back section strip 6 may be cut in pattern to form a closed heel portion like that shown in my above mentioned previous patent, in lieu of the open heel portion, 23, herein illustrated.

The operation and advantages of my im provements will be readily understood by those familiar with the athletic arts and the uses for which the device is adapted. The improved construction provides the maximum of comfort, convenience and durability, and produces a soft and pliable status at all tender parts of the foot and ankle, especially at the back section which comes immediately above the heel. The relative construction also secures facility and economy in manufacture and provides for the utilization of small pieces in forming the back section of the main body portion of the device.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An improved ankle support and protector of the class described, comprising a pliable outside main portion formed of a one-piece blank and forming compositely the side portions of the upper part of the body of the device which extend at each side the ankle and at the front and the bottom strip or portion which extends clownwardly from said side portions and passes under the instep, the upper part of said outside main portion terminating in rear edges which are respectively in front of the back section of the device which surrounds the rear of the ankle above the heel, whereby the one-piece blankwhich forms said outside main portion does not extend to the rear of the ankle, aseamless pliable strip corresponding to the space between the rear edges of the upper part of said outside main portion and secured in connection with said edges, and an inner pliable body strip formed of a one-piece seamless blank and extending continuously over the inner face of the upper portion of said outside main portion above the bottom strip or portion which passes under the instep and also continuously over the inner face of said seamless back strip so that both the outer and inner members of the body of the device present a smooth and seamless surface at the back section which surrounds the ankle above the heel.

2. An improved ankle support and protector of the class described, comprising a pliable outside main portion forming compositely the side portions of the upper part of the body of the device which extend at each side the ankle and at the front end the bottom strip or portion which extends downwardly from said side portions and passes under the instep, an inner pliable body stri extending over the inner face of the upper portion of said outside main portion above the bottom strip or portion which passes under the instep, and a sweatproof strip of waterproof material extending over the inner face of said bottom instep strip or portion of said outside main portion below the bottom edges of said inner body strip, said sweat-proof member forming a reinforce for the bottom instep strip portion of said main outer portion which extends below the inner body-strip member of the device.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witmesses.

HENRY JAMES COLLIS. WVitnesses:

KATE A. GALLIGAN, ALBERT S. ELDRIDGE.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

